Dropper jacquard mechanism



July 15, 1958 F. H. HAsLAM-JcNEs 1 2,343,000

DROPPER JACQUARD MECHANISM Filed May 2, 1955 5 Shets-Sheet 1 July 15,1958 HASLAM-JQNES 2,843,000

DROPPER JAC QUARD MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1955 mvwInvergtor K Horswt Haikam-l ones By.- WLIJAM S. SYMRM July 15, 1958 F.H. HAsLAM-JoNEs I 2,343,000

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DROPPER JACQUARD MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 2, 1955 Inventor;FwmR H-mg m F. H. HASLAM-JONES 2,843,000

DROPPER JACQUARD MECHANISM Jul 15, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 2,1955 DROPPER JACQUARD MECHANISM Frauh Horsfield Hashim-Jones, WestBridgford, England, iISSiagllO! to John Jar-dine Limited, New Basford,Eng- Application May 2, 1955, Serial No. 505,424 Claims priority,application Great Britain May 7, 1954 9 Claims. (Cl. 87-14) Thisinvention is improved dropper jacquard mechan1sm of the type in whichperforated jacquard cards are presented, one after another, at eachcycle of the mecharusm, to an assembly of droppers and by relativemovement between the operative card and the droppers, selected droppersare caused to occupy a projected position and other selected droppersare caused to occupy a nonprojecting position, the selection beinggoverned by the number and pattern of the perforations. Such mechanismis commonly employed in textile machines; for example in Leavers lacemachines it is employed to select for movement the steel bars (or threadguide bars) which control the warp and beam threads and also topredetermine the extent to which any selected steel bar is moved.

It has been found that in many machines one of the factors limiting themachine speed is the speed at which the jacquard mechanism can beoperated safely, and it has further been found that one of the factorslimiting the safe speed of the jacquard mechanism is the inertia of themoving parts and the distance through which some of the parts have totravel.

An object of the present invention is to effect such improvements indropper jacquard mechanism of the type specified as will permit suchmechanism to be run at higher speeds than has hitherto been customary inLeavers lace machines.

The invention therefore provides dropper jacquard mechanism of the typespecified having, in combination with means for mounting the jacquardcylinder for movement towards and away from the droppers, cylinderracking means between which and the cylinder relative movement takesplace in a direction transverse to the first said movement. Thus both ofthese movements may be of relatively small amplitude with a consequentincrease in safe operating speed.

According to an important subsidiary feature of the invention there ispivoted support means for supporting the cylinder and droppers forbodily movement to and fro about an axis parallel to the cylinder axisand for bodily movement of the cylinder towards and away from thedroppers in a direction normal to the cylinder axis. The pivotalmounting of the cylinder and droppers again makes for an increase insafe operating speed and an economy in motive power.

According to a further important subsidiary feature the movement of thecylinder away from the droppers serves to bring it into position to beacted on by the racking means, and the latter comprises a series of gearteeth or their equivalent and the cylinder is provided with a pinion orits equivalent for engaging the teeth.

The foregoing and other features of the invention are incorporated inthe jacquard mechanism which will now be described in detail by way ofexample with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the mechanism;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of one end thereof;

Figure 3 is an end elevation on a somewhat larger nitecl States Patentscale of some of the components shown in Figure l, and with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which Figure 4 is a side elevation of adouble mechanism according to this invention, in its casing (with acover plate of the latter removed);

Figure 5 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 4,with a cover plate removed;

Figure 6 is a general view of a lace machine incorporating a doublemechanism according to this invention.

Referring primarily to Figures 1-5 the mechanism shown in the drawingsis particularly intended foruse in Leavers lace machines for selectingand moving the steel bars controlling the Warp and beam threads; it is adouble mechanism in that it consists of two complete jacquard mechanismsoperating alternatively.

One of these mechanisms (the right hand one in Figures l and 4) will bedescribed in detail; like reference numerals indicate like parts in thetwo mechanisms but in the second mechanism these reference numerals areprimed.

The mechanism comprises a hexagonal jacquard cylinder or drum Jillmounted by its spindle 11 between two levers l2 pivoted at their lowerends 13 to rock about a horizontal axis parallel to the cylinder axis.By stepby-step rotation of the cylinder 10, jacquard cards a arepresented horizontally in an operative position, at which they may beoffered to a series of flexible droppers M. The droppers 14 are slidablymounted in a support 15 extending between the two levers 12.

In order that the cylinder It) may be raised and lowered its spindle 11is carried in bearing blocks 16 each of which is slidably guided in aguide slot 17 extending lengthwise of the associated lever 12. Movementof the cylinder up and down the levers 12 is produced by connecting rods18 extending between the bearing blocks 16 and bell crank levers 1pivoted at 20, these levers being further connected by connecting rod 21to one arm of a truck lever 22 pivoted at 23 and having truck 24engaging a suitably shaped cam 25 on a constantly rotating cam shaft 26.

The rocking movement of levers 12 and cylinder 10 are derived from camshaft 27, and a counter-cam shaft 28. For this purpose the levers arepivoted at to a driving bar 31 slidable along guides 32 and connected bya link 33 to a truck lever 34 pivoted at 35 and having trucks acted onby cam and counter-cam on shafts 27, 28.

Movement of the jacquard cylinder 10 away from the droppers 14 to itslower position brings it into position to be acted on by the rackingmeans shown as a toothed quadrant 36 pivoted at 37. As the jacquardcylinder is lowered the pinion 38 with which it is provided, engages theteeth of this quadrant; the latter is rocked at an appropriate timethrough link 39, truck lever th and truck 41 acted on by a cam 42 on camshaft 26.

Associated with the quadrant 36 there is a check plate 43 co-operatingwith a pin wheel 44 to prevent over travel of the cylinder 10, thelatter being further located in each of its six positions by means of aspring pressed plunger or ball 45 co-operating with six recesses in theface of a disc 46 on the cylinder spindle 11.

Referring to the mechanism on the right in Figure l, the cylinder 10occupies its lower position when at the left hand extremity of its toand fro swing. In this attitude the gear 38 is meshed with quadrant 36and the latter is rocked in the clock-wise direction, Figure l, to rackthe cylinder 10 in the anti-clockwise direction and finally to carryquadrant 36 out of mesh with gear 38. During the last stages of movementof quadrant 36, driving bar 31 and levers 12 move to the right, untilthe latter occupy a substantially vertical attitude. As this movementtakes place, the cylinder 10 starts to rise to disengage gear 38 fromthe moving quadrant 36 and to make a fresh selection of droppers.Driving bar 31 and levers 12 then start to move to the left and as theydo so the cylinder completes its upward movement so that the heads 47 ofselected droppers are positioned in front of the left hand edge of bar31. Continued movement of bar 31 to the left (accompanied by movement oflevers 12 to the left) traps the raised heads 47 of selected droppersbetween the bar 31 and parts 50 associated with the elements 52.Selected elements 52 are thus moved to the left, through a selecteddistance. After the bar 31 and levers 12 have reached the left handextremity of travel, the cylinder 10 is lowered to free the top jacquardcard from' the droppers and to engage gear 38 with quadrant 36.

It is to be explained that the droppers are arranged in ranks in theaxial direction of the cylinder 10 and the droppers in the various ranksare arranged in files one behind each other in Figure 2. As a result ofthe selection of droppers made by cylinder 1t and the jacquard cards, inany selected file at least one dropper can be raised until its enlargedhead 47 becomes level with the driving bar 31. In certain files, ofcourse, no droppers at all may be raised.

The selected droppers are caused or permitted to descend at a time whentheir heads 4-7 cease to be gripped between bar 31 and parts 50.

For each file of droppers in each mechanism there is a horizontallymovable member 48 known as a box and each box is connected to one of thesteel bars 52 of a lace machine 53. In each file the raised dropperheads 47, 47' constitute a distance piece interposed between driving bar31, 31' and parts 54 50 of the associated box. Therefore in movement ofthe driving bar to the left any given box is driven to the left (againstthe tension of a spring not shown) but contained in a housing 54, Figure6, to a variable amount dependent on the aggregate thickness of theraised heads 47 or 47. During or at the end of this movement to the leftthe cylinder 10 descends but the descent of the droppers (under theinfluence of gravity or a spring device) is delayed because of the gripon the dropper heads until (during subsequent movement of the drivingbar to the right) the return movement of the box is halted by engagementof its part 50 or 50' against the other driving bar or dropperspositioned before the other driving bar. The grip on the droppers isthen released allowing them to descend. The movement of the steel bars48 by the driving bars 31, 31 takes place at a time when the wall of thelace machine is clear of bobbin carriages.

The second jacquard mechanism, having primed reference numbers inFigures 1 and 4, is out of phase with the other mechanism by l80". Thuswhile levers l2 swing to the left, levers 12 are stationary in theirupright right-hand position, and While levers 12' swing to the left,levers 12 are stationary in their upright righthand position whilecylinder 1% ascends, cylinder 10 is lowered; moreover, althoughquadrants 36 and 36 move simultaneously (being connected by a link 49)quadrant 36 makes its working stroke While quadrant 36 makes its idlereturn stroke.

The double jacquard mechanism is indicated generally by reference 55 inFigure 6 and the mechanisms are housed in a casing 57 equipped withvarious cover plates or inspection doors such as are indicated at 58 and59. The double mechanism is driven by driving shaft 65 from the lacemachine 53; shaft 60 drives cam shaft 28 through bevel gearing 61 andcam shaft 28 drives cam shaft 27 through gearing 62, 63. Shaft 28likewise drives cam shaft 26 through gearing 62, 64, 65.

It will therefore be appreciated that for each jacquard mechanism thereare cam and counter cam mechanisms for producing the swinging movementof levers 12 or 12', for moving the cylinder it? or 10 towards and awayfrom its associated droppers 14 or 14', and for swinging the quadrant 36or 36' to rack the associated cylinder, and that because of these camand counter cam mechanisms these movements are performed positively inboth directions, thus achieving exact timing and permitting of highspeeds of operation.

I claim:

1. Dropper jacquard mechanism comprising the combination of a jacquardcylinder, jacquard cards on said cylinder, variable numbers and patternsof perforations in said cards, an assembly of droppers adjacent thecylinder, means mounting the cylinder for movement towards and away fromthe droppers by which movement selected droppers are caused to occupy aprojected position and other selected droppers are caused to occupy anon-projected position as governed by the number and pattern of saidperforations, and racking means for racking the cylinder to present thecards one after the other to the droppers by relative movement betweenthe racking means and the cylinder in a direction transverse to themovement of the cylinder towards and away from the droppers.

2. Dropper jacquard mechanism comprising the combination of a jacquardcylinder rotatable about its axis, jacquard cards on said cylinder,variable numbers and patterns of perforations in said cards, an assemblyof droppers adjacent the cylinder, pivoted support means for supportingthe cylinder and droppers for bodily movement to and fro about an axisparallel to the cylinder axis and for bodily movement of the cylindertowards and away from the droppers in a direction normal to the cylinderaxis by which movement selected droppers are caused to occupy aprojected position and other selected droppers are caused to occupy anonprojected position as governed by the number and pattern of saidperforations, and racking means for racking the cylinder to present thecards one after another to the droppers by relative movement between theracking means and the cylinder in a direction transverse to the movementof the cylinder towards and away from the droppers.

3. Dropper jacquard mechanism comprising the combination of a jacquardcylinder, jacquard cards on the cylinder, variable numbers and patternsof perforations in the cards, an assembly of droppers adjacent thecylinder, means mounting the cylinder for movement towards and away fromthe droppers by which movement selected droppers are caused to occupy aprojected position and other selected droppers are caused to occupy anon-projected position as governed by the number and pattern of theperforations, a pinion on the cylinder, and racking means comprising aseries of gear teeth with which said pinion is caused to engage when thecylinder moves away from the droppers for racking the cylinder topresent the cards one after another to the droppers by relative movementbetween the gear teeth and pinion in a direction transverse to themovement of the cylinder towards and away from the droppers.

4. Dropper jacquard mechanism comprising the combination of a jacquardcylinder rotatable about its axis, jacquard cards on the cylinder,variable numbers and patterns of perforations in the cards, an assemblyof droppers adjacent the cylinder, pivoted support means for supportingthe cylinder for bodily movement to and fro about an axis parallel tothe cylinder axis, guides in the pivoted support means for bodilymovement of the cylinder towards and away from the droppers in adirection normal to the cylinder axis by which movement selecteddroppers are caused to occupy a projected position and other selecteddroppers are caused to occupy a non-projected position as governed bythe number and pattern of the perforations, and racking means forracking the cylinder to present the cards one after another to thedroppers by relative movement between the racking means and the cylinderin a direction transverse to the movement of the cylinder as guided bysaid guides towards and away from the droppers.

5. Dropper jacquard mechanism comprising the combination of a jacquardcylinder, jacquard cards on said cylinder, variable numbers and patternsof perforations on said cards, an assembly of individually movabledroppers adjacent the cylinder, said cylinder and droppers being bodilymovable in a direction transverse to that of the individual droppers,movable selection elements, a driver for moving said elements in saidtransverse direction, means mounting the cylinder for movement towardand away from the droppers by which movement selected droppers arecaused to occupy a projected position interposed between said elementsand the driver and other selected droppers are caused to occupy anonprojected position clear of said elements and driver as governed bythe number and pattern of said perforations, and racking means forracking the cylinder to present the cards one after another to thedroppers by. relative movement between the racking means and thecylinder in a direction transverse to the movement of the cylindertowards and away from the droppers.

6. Dropper jacquard mechanism comprising the combination of a jacquardcylinder, jacquard cards on said cylinder, variable numbers and patternsof perforations in said cards, an assembly of droppers adjacent thecylinder, means mounting the cylinder for movement towards and away fromthe droppers by which movement selected droppers are caused to occupy anonprojected position as governed by the number and pattern of saidperforations, cam and counter cams means for effecting said movement ofthe cylinder towards and away from the droppers, racking means forracking the cylinder to present the cards one after another to thedroppers by relative movement between the racking means and the cylinderin a direction transverse to the movement of the cylinder towards andaway from the droppers, and cam and counter cam means for operating theracking means.

7. Dropper jacquard mechanism comprising the combination of a jacquardcylinder rotatable about its axis, jacquard cards on said cylinder,variable numbers and patterns of perforations in said cards, an assemblyof droppers adjacent the cylinder, pivoted support means for supportingthe cylinder and droppers for bodily swinging movement to and fro aboutan axis parallel to the cylinder axis, a pinion coupled to the cylinder,means mounting the cylinder and pinion on the support means for movementtowards and away from the droppers by which movement selected droppersare caused to occupy a projected position and other selected droppersare caused to occupy a non-projected position as governed by the numberand pattern of the perforations, a swinging quadrant for acting on thepinion, means mounting the quadrant for engagement by and disengagementfrom the pin-- ion upon movement of the cylinder away from and towardsthe droppers, and cam and counter cam mechanisms for producing theswinging movement of the support means, also for moving the cylindertowards and away from the droppers, and further for swinging thequadrant to rack the cylinder.

8. Dropper jacquard mechanism comprising the combination ofreciprocating selection elements, a reciprocating driver for operatingsaid elements, a support arm connected to said driver and pivotallymounted on an axis transverse to the direction of reciprocation of thedriver and elements, an assembly of droppers on the support arm, ajacquard cylinder slidably mounted on the support arm, jacquard cards onsaid cylinder, variable numbers and patterns of projections on thecards, racking means operable for racking the cylinder to presentdifferent cards to the droppers, cam and counter cam means for operatingthe racking means, cam and counter cam means for sliding the cylinderalternately into and out of co-operation with the racking means andrespectively out of and into operative engagement with the dropperswhereby selected of the droppers are projected to a position determiningthe reciprocatory space relationship between the driver and the elementsand the remainder remain non-projected as governed by the number andpattern of said perforations, and cam and counter cam means foreffecting joint oscillation of the support arm and reciprocation of thedriver to present a fresh selection of droppers to the elements anddriver prior to each operation of the elements by the driver.

9. Dropper jacquard mechanism of duplicate construction wherein twomechanisms each comprising the combination of reciprocating selectionelements, a reciprocating driver for operating said elements, a supportarm connected to said driver and pivotally mounted on an axis transverseto the direction of reciprocation of the driver and elements, anassembly of droppers on the support arm, a jacquard cylinder slidablymounted on the support arm, jacquard cards on said cylinder, variablenumbers and patterns of perforations on the cards, racking meansoperable for racking the cylinder to present different cards to thedroppers, cam and counter cam means for sliding the cylinder alternatelyinto and out of co-operation with the racking means and respectively outof and into operative engagement with the droppers whereby selected ofthe droppers are projected to a position determining the reciprocatoryspace relationship between the driver and the elements and the remainderremain non-projected as governed by the number and pattern of saidperforations, and cam and counter cam means for effecting jointoscillation of the support arm and reciprocation of the driver topresent a fresh selection of droppers to the elements and driver priorto each operation of the elements by the driver, in combination withcommon cam and counter cam means for operating the two racking means,and the cams and counter cams for each driver being arranged to beoperative in turn while the other is inoperative and a fresh selectionof the droppers of the other mechanism is being made.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS379,484 Meats Mar. 13, 1888 507,575 Zimermann Oct. 31, 1893 1,214,449Fuchs Jan. 30, 1917 1,382,558 Schuler June 21, 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS489,882 Great Britain Aug. 5, 1938

